By Mark Edwards
OXFORD United will relive their greatest moment when the curtain finally comes down on 76 years of organised football at the Manor Ground tomorrow.
United are set to field two-thirds of their Milk Cup-winning side against QPR - their Wembley opponents from 1986 - in a special charity match which marks the end of an era in Oxford's history.
Alan Judge, United's goalkeeper on that memorable day 15 years ago, has organised the game to raise money for the Oxford Cancer Centre and Redevelopment of Cancer Services and Colorectal Surgery at the Oxford Radcliffe hospitals.
And the response has been so phenomenal that former United players have been going out of their way to make themselves available for the match, which kicks-off at 2.30.
"It is the first time we have all managed to get together since we won the trophy," Judge said.
"Everyone is really looking forward to it and we are all quite excited about being together for what could be the last time."
Two players who will not be there, however, are Malcolm Shotton and Ray Houghton, two influential figures back in 1986.
Two more of United's Wembley heroes, David Langan and Billy Hamilton, are unable to play, but they will both be at the Manor.
The match will start and end with the players who appeared in the final, with other well-known faces filling in in-between.
"Unfortunately Malcolm Shotton can't come as he's on a coaching trip in Jersey. And Ray Houghton is another who won't be there, but other than that, virtually the entire side will be," Judge added.
"We are still trying to get in touch with John Aldridge to confirm whether he is coming, but we are hopeful he will be.
"We are going to start the match with all the players who played in the Milk Cup final and then replace them with other well-known players midway through the first half.
"The other players will play for the first ten or 15 minutes of the second half, and then we'll bring all the Milk Cup side back on for the final half-hour to hopefully go out with a flourish."
Judge has set his sights on raising at least £8,000 for charity, but is hopeful of a lot more.
"If we can get about 2,000 through the gate then we should be able to raise about £8,000 after the costs are taken out," he said.
"But hopefully, we can have around 4,000 there and then we're talking about £15,000-£20,000 which would be fantastic.
"I'd urge as many people as possible to turn up. I'm sure everyone knows someone who has cancer, so this is their chance to help others."
QPR have recruited a number of their 1986 Wembley side, but they will also include two current Oxford stars in their line-up in the shape of teenage goalkeeper Phil Wilson and reserve team manager Mike Ford. STARTING LINE-UPS
Oxford Utd: Judge, Trewick, Briggs, Slatter, McDonald, Brock, Phillips, Hebberd, Rhoades-Brown, Charles, Aldridge/Foley. Subs: Hardwick, Burton, Jones, Dreyer, Lawrence.
QPR: Wilson, Neill, Wicks, Clarke, Ford, Barnett, Waddock, Silkman, Walker, Byrne, Walsh. Subs: Stainrod, Fereday, Fogg.
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